Ruth – Guide leader

For Ruth, 31, guiding is a way of giving something back to her community.

“I’m a big advocate of getting involved and giving back to your community.

“It’s great to know that I’m helping to get 30-odd girls doing something constructive of an evening and giving them something to look forward to.

“We are quite involved in our community, too. We’re working with the church to help out in the garden, growing food for a food share project and making soup.

“Last year we only managed potatoes but this year we grew loads of veg so it was a much more interesting soup!”

But Ruth, who joined Girlguiding Scotland as a Brownie and now runs Guide units in Musselburgh and West Dunbartonshire, says it’s also opened doors for her personally.

She credits her guiding volunteering with bagging her traineeship when she was starting out as a family solicitor.

“Even though I come across as quite shy, the panel were really impressed with the volunteering I’d done with the Guides and Scouts in France during my university year out, including leading a camp for 24 young people.

“I’ve really enjoyed meeting and working with new people through guiding, too.

“It gives you a head start in work because you always have to get on with lots of different types of people.”

And now Ruth, a keen runner, has given up her legal role and is looking for a role where she can help children and young people speak out.

“All the stuff Girlguiding and Girlguiding Scotland do to give girls a voice means I’m now really interested advocating for children who can get lost in the void.”

So what’s been Ruth’s mountaintop moment with guiding?

“Definitely taking part in the Queen’s Baton Relay as part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.